Matt Dinniman's "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series plunges its protagonists into a desperate struggle for survival within a literal dungeon that serves as an intergalactic reality show. This unique premise, blending dark humor with brutal challenges, has inspired a look at video games that mirror its core themes. From the immediate dread of corporate exploitation to the strategic depth of navigating overwhelming environments, several titles offer a similar experience to Carl and Princess Donut's harrowing journey.
Tutorial Levels and Corporate Cruelty
For the initial floors of the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series, where characters face the grim reality of being expendable employees in a deadly environment, "Lethal Company" offers a direct parallel. This co-op survival horror game places players in the role of disposable crew members scavenging on abandoned moons for profit. The game's emphasis on small mistakes leading to grotesque suffering and a pervasive sense of impending doom directly reflects the onboarding and culling process experienced by the characters in the early books. The atmosphere is one of corporate indifference to employee well-being, where survival is not guaranteed.
Navigating Overwhelming Cities
As the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" narrative progresses to more complex environments like the "Over City" on Floor 3, the overwhelming nature of a sprawling, quest-filled metropolis comes into focus. "Baldur's Gate 3's" Act 3 captures this feeling effectively. Upon reaching the city of Baldur's Gate, players are confronted with an immense number of side quests, interactable NPCs, and various shops, creating a sense of being delightfully lost in a chaotic, living world. The series also introduces class and race changes around this point, making "Baldur's Gate 3's" robust character creation system a fitting match for players looking to experiment with new builds.
Abstract Puzzles and Shifting Realities
Floor 4 of "Dungeon Crawler Carl," known as "The Iron Tangle," presents a labyrinthine challenge where maps are unreliable and environments defy conventional logic. "Antichamber," an exploration maze game, embodies this disorienting design. Players find themselves in an MC Escher-esque world where hallways twist in impossible ways, spaces reconfigure with each visit, and a matter-manipulating gun offers unpredictable solutions. The game's abstract nature and mind-bending puzzles directly mirror the disorienting experience of navigating the Iron Tangle.
Biome-Specific Challenges and Conquer-the-Castle Scenarios
The "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series often places its characters in distinct, themed environments. Floor 5, with its "Hump Town" and surrounding biome-themed bubbles, evokes the challenges found in "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." Link's quest to clear various dungeon-adjacent puzzles within water, volcanic, tomb, and winter environments before facing a final boss echoes the need to conquer distinct zones in "Dungeon Crawler Carl." While "Tears of the Kingdom" may lack a razor-toothed feral goose boss named Denise, its environmental puzzle-solving and progression through themed areas align with the book's challenges.
High-Stakes Hunts and Battle Royale Encounters
Floor 6, "The Hunting Grounds," described as a "Jurassic Park x Battle Royale nightmare," finds characters hunted by wealthy aliens for sport. "Predator: Hunting Grounds" directly translates this premise into a video game format. Players as an elite soldier fireteam must complete objectives in a dangerous jungle setting while being stalked by an alien Predator. The game's core loop of survival against a powerful, predatory force mirrors the life-or-death stakes Carl and Donut face in this part of the dungeon.
Roguelike Deckbuilders and Psychological Horror
After skipping a floor, "Dungeon Crawler Carl" reaches Floor 8, "Ghosts of Earth," a recreation of Havana populated by memory ghosts. This premise, where characters hunt monsters to build battle cards, draws parallels to "Inscryption." This roguelike deckbuilder blends psychological horror with escape room elements and shifting art styles. The act of sacrificing weaker units to play more powerful cards in "Inscryption" mirrors the often bleak and brutal choices Carl and Donut must make for survival.
Grand Scale Warfare and Resource Management
Floor 9, "Faction Wars," involves large-scale strategic combat and resource management, aligning with "Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord." This medieval sandbox game tasks players with building an army from humble beginnings, managing trade, recruiting soldiers, and engaging in real-time sieges and battles. The logistical demands of commanding troops and managing inventory and companions in "Mount & Blade 2" reflect the constant, life-dependent inventory and ally management Carl undertakes in "Dungeon Crawler Carl."
Vehicular Death Races and Oppressive Atmospheres
Floor 10 of "Dungeon Crawler Carl" features a "death-race gauntlet" where survival depends on speed, strategy, and staying on a treacherous track. "Distance," a 2012 driving sci-fi horror game, captures this experience. Players navigate Escher-inspired tracks with flying car capabilities, dodging hazards like sawblades and lasers, all set to an oppressive techno soundtrack. The game's underlying narrative of slowly unfolding horror as players race for their lives makes it a compelling match for this particular book.
Beyond these specific floor parallels, games like "Borderlands," "The Outer Worlds," and "Enter the Gungeon" also capture the overarching spirit of "Dungeon Crawler Carl." These titles share themes of corporations exploiting players for profit amidst absurd, hilarious, and deadly environments, echoing the constant struggle for survival in Dinniman's acclaimed series.
